Ribbon spool cover arrangement in typewriter



y 1960 H. B. CHILDS RIBBON SPOOL COVER ARRANGEMENT IN TYPEWRITER 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 24, 1958 MUD . L Q D UUDD D J 3 INVENTOR.HENRY B. CH/LDS BPMZ% ATTORNEY I -1- 1 R 1f V m -i :lita.!.r.l..lii!llillii illLn Fll ||II| llll lllll .IL lllllllll II i--::---::----L l-r fl RIBBON SPOOL COVER ARRANGEMENT IN TYPEWRITER FiledNov. 24, 1958 H. B CHILDS July 26, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 U ited Statesatent O RIBBON SPOOL COVER ARRANGEMENT IN TYPEWRITER Henry B. Childs,Elmwood, Conn., assignor to Underwood Corporation, New York, N.Y., acorporation of This invention relates to ribbon spool covers for type-Writers in general, and, in a more specific sense, to ribbon spoolcovers for typewriters of the kind which embody an open-frame carriagereaching forwardly from the platen over the ribbon spool region foraccommodation thereat of conveniently manipulative margin gagingdevices.

It is old in typewriters of the stated kind to provide displaceablespool covers, but in all previously devised arrangements the spoolcovers in their uncovering positions stand in the path of movement ofthe carriage. Therefore if the carriage is inadvertently returned orotherwise moved before the restoration of the spool covers is effected,said covers will be scratched or bent, or the machine otherwise damaged.Most detrimentally also, prior covers in their uncovering'positionsinfringe upon desirable free space for the eflicient and convenientmovement of the operators hands in effecting placement and removal ofthe ribbon spools. Also, the spool cover structures used heretofore inmachines of said stated kind are of ineificient structure and unsuitablefor best enhancement of the aesthetic appeal of the machine.

It is therefore a main object of the invention to provide in connectionwith the kind of typewriter hereinabove referred to, ribbon spool coversadvantageously correlated with other parts of the machine, and movablyorganized, to. be in all respects fully satisfactory.

It is a further object of the invention to provide ribbon spool coversfor a typewriter of the stated kind, which are efiiciently movable touncover the said spools in a manner so that no condition is ever createdwhich gives cause to marring of such covers or other machine damage.

In connection with the stated kind of machine it is a further object ofthe invention to provide spool covers efliciently mounted andcoordinated with other parts of the machine for movement to facilitatethe loading or unloading of ribbon spools in a most convenient manner.

It is a more detailed object of the invention to provide in the statedkind of machine for the two ribbon spools, individual dust covers whichare movable to uncovering positions generally parallel to the carriage,oppositely to facilitate the convenient installation or removal of ribbon spools, said cover-s being correlated with the frame and thecarriage so as to facilitate always the free and unobstructed movementof the latter.

Other objects will become apparent as the description of a preferredembodiment of the invention proceeds.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of an Underwood standard typewriter embodyingthe spool covers of the invention, a right-hand spool cover being showndisplaced laterally of the machine to facilitate spool access.

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of a right-hand upper portion ofthe typewriter seen in Figure 1, taken along a line 2-2 of Figure 1, andshowing one of the ribbon spool covers of the invention, and finally,

Figure 3 is a front perspective view looking in a rightward directiondownwardly upon the right ribbon spool region and showing a cover movedrightwardly from over the ribbon spool.

Having now particular reference to Figure 1, a main frame 12 of thetypewriter has a carriage 13 thereupon adapted to traverse it in a usualmanner. Said carriage 13 comprises two spaced end pieces 14 upon whichthere is turnably supported a usual platen roll 15. The typewriter has ausual keyboard indicated at 16 and the main frame 12 includes oppositeside walls 17.

Forwardly of the platen roll 15, between its spaced end pieces 14, themachine has two laterally spaced, substantially vertical spindles 18upon each of which there is adapted to be placed a ribbon spool 20. Inthe particular machine shown in the drawings, the spools are of theflanged kind, but, of course, unflanged spools may be used if themachine is designed to receive such spools. In a conventional mannertypewriter ribbon 21 is adapted to be threaded through a usual ribbonvibrator 22 which automatically lifts the ribbon incidental to eachtyping operation to present it at a usaul printing point. Type bars 19of a usual system arranged intermediate said spool spindles 18 strike atsaid printing point. The end pieces 14 of the carriage comprise arms 23which reach forwardly of the platen 15 over the general region occupiedby the ribbon spools 20. Forwardly beyond said spools, a bar 24 ofL-shaped cross section extends parallel to the platen and connects saidarms 23. At the rear of the platen 15 the carriage end pieces 14 arerigidly connected by a bar 25. The carriage end pieces 14, inclusive ofthe arms 23 and together with'the bars 24 and 25 may be said toconstitute an open carriage frame. The main frame 12 has upon the rear acarriage guiding rod 26 and furthermore has forwardly of the front bar24 of the carriage, a track bar 27 having a channel insert 28 ofU-shaped cross section.

Two spaced elements 30 on the rear bar 25 of the carriage have carriageguiding association with the rod 26. Rolls 31 on'the front bar 24 of thecarriage by traveling in the channel insert 28 of the track bar 27 givesupplemental carriage guidance. The front bar 24 of the carriage carrieshidden thereby a rack bar 32 which supports adjustably thereon usualleft and right margin stops indicated at 33. Each such margin stop isreleasable and adjustable along said rack bar 32 by a finger piece 34which is situated directly behind the carriage bar 24. A frame supportedcounterstop indicated at 35 serves for margin gaging coaction with saidmargin stops 33.

The ribbonspool supporting spindles 18 turn each in vertically spacedbearings afforded by an upper platform 36 and a flange 37 thereunder,each related platform 36 and flange 37 being part of a bracket structure39 which by screws 38 is attached to an internal rib 40 of the adjacentside wall 17. For simplicity of illustration, the ribbon spools 20 areshown to fit directly upon the top ends of the spindles 18. Furthermore,they rest' each on a' circular flange 41of the spindle 18, each' flangehaving an upwardly projecting spool driving pin 42.

Individual .dust covers 43 for said ribbon spools 20 underlie saidcarriage arms 23 for travel of the latter with clearance thereover. Eachdust cover 43 overlies normally a general area between the platen 15 andthe front bar 24 of the carriage over one ribbon spool to the outerextremity of the machine side wall 17. A main portion of each cover 43is generally horizontal and from such portion slopes a front portion 45underneath the front bar 24 of the carriage in a generally contiguousrelationship thereto but clear thereof and the margin stop elements 33.

The ribbon spool covers 43 are each 'displaceable parallel to the platen15 outwardly of the machine frame, that is parallel to the direction ofmovement of the carriage. This is to facilitate access to the ribbonspool locations for permitting the efiicient loading or unloading ofribhon spools. Prior to effecting such operations the carriage 13 isapproximately centered laterally upon the machine frame 17 asillustrated in Figure 1. Then by application of finger pressure againstthe inner extremities of the covers, said covers are pushed outwardly toextend to each side beyond the main frame. This renders the generalribbon spool area of the machine very open and free for ribbon spoolhandling, that is for ribbon spool removal or installation.

The structure for supporting said ribbon spool covers 43 for outwarddisplacement is very simple and eflicient. On each cover 43 there arechannels 46 formed along their front and rear edges parallel to thecarriage and facing generally toward each other. These channels fitoppositely guiding edges provided on opposite webs 47 of a trough-likemember 50 which is preferably formed of springy material. Screws 51secure said members 50 upon their related platforms 36. The said troughmembers 50 are made of flexing material, designed for their edgesresiliently to press into the cover channels 46, whereby the covers arefrictionally retained in whatever positions they may be moved to andwill not rattle. At each side of the machine the side walls 17 reachupwardly into close relationship with the undersides of the covers 43,see particularly Figure 2, and thereby conceal each ribbon spool fromthe side. Installation of each cover 43 is effected by first hooking oneof the cover channels 46 over the appropriate edge of the related member50 and then pressing the cover in the direction of the other edge anddownwardly. Each cover 43 has secured to its underside a motion limitingelement 52. One end of such element 52 will limit outward motion of thecover by engagement with the inner side of the side wall 17 and theother end will limit inward motion by cooperation with a finger 53 whichis upreaching from the platform 36. The stated finger 53 affords a usualribbon guiding edge 54.

Having explained the nature and the objects of the invention, and havingspecifically described a machine embodying the invention in itspreferred form, what is claimed is:

1. In a typewriter having a main frame, a platen roll and a system offront-strike type bars of which the individual bars are operablerearwardly against said platen roll; means on said frame forwardly ofsaid platen roll, at each opposite side of said system of type bars andsubstantially within the lateral confines of said frame, to accommodatea spool of typewriter ribbon, a carriage on said main frame andsupporting the said platen roll, means to guide said carriage on saidmain frame for travel parallel to the platen roll axis, said carriagehaving for substantially its full length, forwardly of said spoolaccommodating means, a bar extending parallel to the platen roll, marginstop means provided in association with said bar, a separate coveroverlying normally each of said spool accommodating means and eachcovering thereat generally an area between the platen roll 2. Theinvention set forth in claim 1, said cover mounting means comprisingmeans oppositely on said main frame and said covers being cooperative togive said covers sliding support for outward movement.

3. The invention set forth in claim 1, said mounting means comprisingcooperative means on said frame and said covers, along the front andrear edges of the latter, to lend sliding support to each cover for saidoutward movement.

4. The invention set forth in claim 1, each said mounting meanscomprising frame supported means affording a rear and a front guidingedge which face oppositely from each other and comprising further onsaid cover two channels facing toward each other and fitting oppositelysaid guiding edges to facilitate sliding movement of said coversoutwardly of said main frame.

5. In a typewriter having a main frame, a platen roll and a system offront-strike type bars of which the individu'al bars are operablerearwardly against said platen roll; means on said frame forwardly ofsaid platen roll, at each opposite side of said system of type bars andsubstantially within the lateral confines of said frame, to accommodatea spool of typewriter ribbon, a carriage on said main frame andsupporting the said platen roll, means to guide said carriage on saidmain frame for travel parallel to the platen roll axis, said carriagehaving for substantially its full length, forwardly of said spoolaccommodating means, a bar extending parallel to the platen roll, marginstop means provided inassociation with said bar, a separate coveroverlying normally each of said spool accommodating means and eachcovering thereat generally an area between the platen roll and said barover a space which is required for the accom modation of a ribbon spool,each of said covers having a generally planar main portion and havingalso a front portion which is downreaching from said main portion, saidbar extending along the front of the downreaclu'ng portions of saidcovers, the said main frame having side walls which are upreaching tomatch closely the stated portion of said covers, said carriage havingateach end of the platen a forwardly reaching arm supporting said bar andbeing formed to travel with clearance over said ribbon spool covers, andmeans to mount each of said covers for movement parallel of said platenroll from over the related spool accommodating means, outwardly of saidmain frame, thereby to facilitate the placement or removal of ribbonspools.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,113,006 Smith Apr. 5, 1938

